Originally written by Caroline Plumb on Small Business
Very little in life surprises these days. Yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle was a case in point. A few short weeks from the Budget and we have a new chancellor, Rishi Sunak. Really?
Rather than being shocked, instead I wondered more about what this means – in keeping with my company’s core way of thinking, “So what, now what?”.
So, does Sajid Javid’s resignation signal reforms more likely to favour businesses like mine and yours? As the news broke, the pound rose significantly with growing belief in the City a radical spending programme would ensue, less constrained by a chancellor keen to establish his fiscally prudent credentials.
It’s about time small businesses felt protected and valued by a government that has relied heavily on them and the self-employed to ensure years of austerity measures didn’t result in mass unemployment.
There are clearly areas where the Budget next month could move to allay concerns held by restaurateurs, recruiters, retailers and every other real business owner. Fail to do so and I fear the mental health, wellbeing and future financial security of business owners will be at risk.
As someone who started my first business aged 21 in 2000 with no prior